dan'smom



Joined: 11 Mar 2003
Posts: 3
Location: Pensacola, Florida
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2003 1:38 am Post subject: Daniel Carter - the kid

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I wanted to take a moment to tell you all something about Daniel. He is a bright, kind, caring person. He loves animals, little kids, babies, and playing guitar. He is a polite and respectful kid with a dislike for violence. He was the victim the night of the my brother's death. My brother was the casualty. He has been plagued with flashbacks, depression, sleeplessness, guilt, fear, nightmares, and has been heavily sedated throughout his incarceration in the Escambia County Jail because of his suicidal thoughts and severe depressive behavior. They are trying now to wean him off 3 meds (antidepressant, antipsychotic, and a sleep inducing med). He is much more lucid and able to make a little better sense. I am supposing this is so that he can be more alert and responsive in his upcoming court appearance. Daniel is no psycho killer teen - he's not an angry teen with a preponderance for violence. He is a child who felt that he was in danger of immenent physical harm by a bigger, more powerful man. He was then victimized by the prosecutor who sought and got a first degree premeditated capital murder from the grand jury, charged as an adult - a charge that calls for a mandatory sentence of 99 years. He was 5 weeks past his 15th birthday when this tragedy occurred. Had he been one year older, the state could have sought the death penalty. Please help in any way possible. Children throughout Florida are victimized by the state's law allowing them to be charged as adults at the discretion of the prosecuting attorney. This is no 1st degree murder case. So many people who read the slanted articles in the Pensacola News Journal (they have a tendency to support the State Attorney's Office) ask why this isn't a case of self defense and are appalled that Daniel has been portrayed as a brutal, psychotic killer. People in our church who have known Daniel since he was four years old disagree. His family disagrees. His freinds disagree. Parents of friends who have had Daniel as a guest in their homes disagree. Please help any way that you can. Don't let the State of Florida throw another juvenile to the wolves (the adult prison system). Florida will take a tremendous hit if people stop vacationing here in protest. Without a steady influx of tourists, especially to Pensacola, there will be a considerable financial impact. And if you publicize your inent to boycott, that will influence business owners to question the state's policy concerning juvenile offenders. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration. Thank you for your prayerful support.



_________________
dan'smom

Please see Article below on Daniel




COURT EVENT SET Event: DOCKET DAY Date[b]: 03/11/2003 Time: 9:00 am

Judge: TERRELL, TERRY D Location: M.C. BLANCHARD JUDICIAL BUILDING[/b]

If you would like to write the judge on Daniels behalf

Judge Terry Terrell
190 Governmental Center
Pensacola Florida 32501

The prosecutor is yet again David Rimmer


State Attorney Curtis Golden
850-595-4200
850-595-4310
david_rimmer@co.escambia.fl.us
curtis_golden@co.escambia.fl.us


Attorney for Carter is James Stokes

James Randall Stokes
1924 W Ten Mile Rd
Cantonment, Florida 32533-7759
Phone: 850-473-0234
FAX: 850-478-5126


Governor is of course Jeb Bush


John Ellis "Jeb" Bush
Governor of Florida
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Phone: 850-488-7146
FAX: 850-487-0801
Email: jeb.bush@myflorida.co

PUBLISHED SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2003

http://www.gulfcoastgateway.com/news/011903/Local/ST004.shtml

King brothers draw sympathetic spotlight from fellow troubled teenager
Read also: Troubled teen, angry uncle: fatal mix

Alan Gomez
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com

For more than a year, the angelic faces of Alex and Derek King drew people from around the world into the youngsters` murder trial.

People wrote letters supporting the kids, bashed the prosecutor and the Florida judicial system and rallied outside the courthouse where the boys would face a life term in prison if convicted of first-degree murder as adults. Web sites defending the boys sprung up.

Meanwhile, another young teen was sitting alongside the King boys in the Escambia County Jail, awaiting his own day in court on the same first-degree murder charge but ignored by the masses pleading for justice.

Daniel Carter, 15, is charged with killing his uncle with a machete-style knife during a confrontation last year in the boy`s Beulah home.

Alex and Derek were 12 and 13 when they killed their sleeping father with a baseball bat, and Daniel isn`t much older.

Circuit Judge Frank Bell, who ordered mediation to settle the Kings` case, also is presiding over Daniel`s case. David Rimmer, the Kings` prosecutor, also is prosecuting Daniel`s case. James Stokes, Alex`s defense attorney, is defending Daniel.

But most of the similarities in the two cases end there.

Unlike the Kings, Daniel has a defense that even Rimmer concedes could work in a jury trial, prompting the prosecutor to offer a plea bargain.

So why is Daniel not getting the attention garnered by Alex and Derek? Why are child advocates not speaking out on the possibility of his spending his life in prison?

Could it be that Alex and Derek, with their pint-size bodies and polished looks, look like the boy next door, while Daniel, standing 6-foot-1 with shaggy hair creeping down over his eyes, looks like the kid from the other side of the tracks? "What do you think?" asked Cynthia Price Cohen, executive director of the Child Rights International Research Institute in New York.

Price Cohen followed the King case closely, but hadn`t heard of Daniel`s case until called by a reporter.

She said part of the King boys` appeal was that they didn`t look like "gutter" children, but like a child who could be sitting next to you in church.

"It was like they had somebody in the wings combing their hair for them every day," she said. "It was unreal. Costuming is everything as far as getting attention from the public or the media."

Stokes is confused by the public ignoring Daniel`s situation but has one theory.

"We could basically feel sorry for one kid at a time," he said. "I guess it`s too much overload."
_________________

NOTE: Despite several attempts of members to assist Mr Stokes he has chosen not to except any assistance to date.

Looks like Stokes did not take the plea deal.


COURT EVENT SET Event: DOCKET DAY Date[b]: 03/11/2003 Time: 9:00 am

Judge: TERRELL, TERRY D Location: M.C. BLANCHARD JUDICIAL BUILDING[/b]


If you would like to write the judge on Daniels behalf

Judge Terry Terrell
190 Governmental Center
Pensacola Florida 32501

The prosecutor is yet again David Rimmer

State Attorney Curtis Golden
850-595-4200
850-595-4310
david_rimmer@co.escambia.fl.us
curtis_golden@co.escambia.fl.us


Attorney for Carter is James Stokes

James Randall Stokes
1924 W Ten Mile Rd
Cantonment, Florida 32533-7759
Phone: 850-473-0234
FAX: 850-478-5126


Governor is of course Jeb Bush


John Ellis "Jeb" Bush
Governor of Florida
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Phone: 850-488-7146
FAX: 850-487-0801
Email: jeb.bush@myflorida.co

Why does this all sound so familiar? OH brother Poor Daniel and his Mother... What can you do? Trial is set for the 23rd or 24th of March.

It is disappointing to the Tax Payers that pay the State Attorney's salary, that prosecutor Rimmer did not choose to put forth his best effort during the trial last month where Chavis was not convicted of molesting Alex King. Rimmer seemed more concerned with abusing Alex King on the witness stand as he attacked the states own witness, a 13 year old child.

It is a relief that one less pedophile is off the street. In the March 5th verdict, The jury deserves the credit for their common sense judgement. Rimmer again "piecemealed" out evidence as he has done in all the trials concerning the King boys and left out important evidence that the jury should have been told. In all of the trials, not one jury was given all the evidence so they could come to a just verdict based on ALL the facts.



The judge also denied credit for time served.

Chavis must do 85 percent of 35 years, That's 29 years before he's eligible for release.

Chavis' past convictions include: 17 felonies, 3 misdemeanors, 2 counts of child molestation, grand theft, and false imprisonment

Fla. Man Convicted As Accessory to Murder
By BILL KACZOR
Associated Press Writer


PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP)--A convicted child molester was found guilty Wednesday of being an accessory to murder for helping two young brothers who bludgeoned their father to death with a baseball bat.

Ricky Chavis, 41, was sentenced to the maximum 30 years in prison after he was found guilty of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and evidence tampering.

He received 30 years for the first charge and five years for the tampering, with the sentences to run concurrently.

Chavis, who has been convicted of 17 felonies, helped Alex and Derek King cover up the Nov. 26, 2001, beating death of their father, Terry King, 40, at their home in nearby Cantonment.

At the time, Alex was 12 and Derek was 13.

After the home was set on fire, the boys called Chavis. He picked them up, took them to his Pensacola home, washed their clothes and hid them from police before turning them in the next day.

Chavis started straight ahead when the verdict was read and showed no emotion. His lawyer, Michael Rollo, argued the sentence was disproportionate to the seven and eight-year sentences the boys received for the killing.

``It's just simply not fair. This is politics, judge. This is a persecution not a prosecution,'' Rollo said.

The boys and Chavis were tried separately for first-degree murder. Chavis was acquitted, but another jury convicted the brothers of second-degree murder. Those jurors later complained about the prosecution's decision to try the boys and Chavis for the same crime under different theories of what happened.

A judge threw out the boys' convictions and ordered mediation that resulted in both pleading guilty to third-degree murder. Alex is serving seven years and Derek eight at separate juvenile facilities.

Chavis was also convicted last month of falsely imprisoning Alex, now 13, and sentenced to five years in prison.

PUBLISHED SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2003

Letters to the Editor

Weapons of mass legal destruction used against Alex King

I have seen many things, from murder to wars to just plain evil, but what happened on the stand to Alex King is just that, evil. I know that many people will say, that guy is nothing but one more fool; I may be a fool, but what did happen with the old ideals of common sense, or is the South just in the Dark Ages?


Any psychologist would tell you that any kid or adult on that so-called stand of justice, when being asked how big is your rapist and how many times did you do it and in what places, would tell you that a kid would just stop talking.


Any good courtroom with a common-sense judge would never allow any lawyer to ask that in open court of a girl or woman, so why Alex, age 13? Why was Alex in open court? You tell me that justice is being served by asking questions in front of an open courtroom; is it justice? Would you not yell if it was a young girl being asked those questions?


As I see it David Rimmer, Judge Bell, Ricky Chavis and Rollo are utilizing weapons of legal mass destruction. - Fred Dawes, Oceanside, Calif.

From the Herald

Transcripts late, Chavis' third Pensacola trial delayed

By BILL KACZOR
Associated Press Writer


Ricky Chavis obtained a delay for his third trial related to the murder of a friend who was killed by the victim's two adolescent sons because transcripts from the last case were not ready Monday.

Circuit Judge Joseph Tarbuck postponed the trial for a week. It was supposed to begin Monday with jury selection.

Chavis, 41, could face a maximum prison sentence of 35 years if convicted of evidence tampering and accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.

He is accused of picking up Alex and Derek King, then 12 and 13, after Derek killed their father by hitting him in the head with an aluminum baseball bat on Nov. 26, 2001. Alex had urged his brother to kill Terry King, 40, while he slept in a recliner at his home in nearby Cantonment.

Escambia County sheriff's investigators say Chavis admitted taking the boys, now 13 and 14, to his Pensacola home where he washed their clothing and hid them from police before turning them in the next day.

Defense lawyer Michael Rollo said a transcription of the King brothers' testimony at Chavis' last trial is vital to showing the boys have a history of lying under oath.

"If I don't have it I can't impeach them whether or not the state calls them," Rollo said.

A six-member jury on Feb. 12 convicted Chavis of falsely imprisoning Alex. Circuit Judge Frank Bell immediately sentenced him to the maximum of five years in prison.

Those jurors, however, refused to believe Alex's claim Chavis repeatedly had molested him in the months before the killing. They acquitted him on 10 counts of lewd or lascivious battery and one of kidnapping, which could have resulted in a life sentence.

The state also tried Chavis and the King brothers before separate juries on first-degree murder charges last year.

Chavis' jury then also rejected the brothers' claims he was the killer and acquitted him. The boys' jury convicted them of second-degree murder without a weapon, but Bell set aside the verdict and ordered mediation.

The King brothers then pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, admitting their accusation against Chavis was a lie. Bell sentenced Alex to seven years and Derek to eight years. They are serving their time at separate juvenile facilities.

The King boys have been returned to Pensacola as potential witnesses although Assistant State Attorney David Rimmer has said he hopes he will not need them. Rollo, however, could call them to the witness stand to impeach their credibility.

Rimmer argued against delaying the trial so the King brothers would not have to spend an extra week away from detention and that Rollo has plenty of impeachment material from the murder trials and other statements the boys have made.

Rollo replied that the brothers made new statements in their testimony two weeks.

Tarbuck said getting the boys back to detention was not a compelling reason to try Chavis without the transcripts.
_________________

Be sure to visit Members websites for updated information about the KIng case and Others

http://home.triad.rr.com/seekjustice/

http://www.boycottflorida.org

http://www.kidsincourt.net

David Rimmer



Depending on your point of view, Assistant State Attorney David Rimmer, the lead prosecutor in the Terry King murder case, is either 1-2 or 0-3.

Rimmer lost another big one when Ricky Chavis was acquitted of 10 counts of sexually molesting then 12-year-old Alex King, who along with his brother Derek King, is serving time in a juvenile prison for helping to carry out the grisly murder of his father in November 2001.

Rimmer also failed to win a conviction last September when Chavis was acquitted of murdering Alex and Derek’s father. First Circuit Court Judge Frank Bell threw out the boys’ murder conviction, and the youths later reached a plea agreement.

Some family members and legal experts complained that Rimmer’s recent case against Chavis relied too much on Alex’s testimony. They question why the State Attorney’s Office didn’t hire an expert who works with child abuse victims to help the jury find their way.

Rimmer, who received heaps of criticism last summer from legal analysts for conducting separate trials charging both Chavis and the King brothers of first-degree murder, has one more shot in the courtroom. Chavis is looking at 35 years max in prison when a Feb. 24 trial begins on charges of accessory after the fact to murder and evidence tampering.



http://www.independentfloridasun.com/page.asp?id=135&type=WINNERS+AND+LOSERS

Pensacola Florida
2/13/2003

King boys' earlier lies hurt Pensacola molestation case

By BILL KACZOR
The Associated Press
2/13/03 3:35 PM

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) -- Vague testimony and lies told by teenagers Alex and Derek King since their arrest for murdering their father with a baseball bat made Alex's claim that a family friend molested him difficult for jurors to believe, lawyers on both sides said Thursday.

A jury Wednesday acquitted Ricky Chavis, 41, of kidnapping and 10 counts of le'wd or lascivious battery but convicted him of false imprisonment. A judge immediately sentenced Chavis to five years in prison, the maximum. He could have received life for kidnapping and 15 years on each of the le'wd or lascivious charges.

The verdict hinged on Alex's testimony that he and Chavis repeatedly performed oral s'ex on each other when the boy was 12. Alex, now 13, claimed it happened during the months before he and his brother, now 14, bludgeoned their father on Nov. 26, 2001, at their home in nearby Cantonment.

"He was not a good witness," prosecutor David Rimmer acknowledged. "He was vague. He was evasive."

The boys had run away from home 10 days before the murder and were staying with Chavis while their father, Terry King, 40, searched for them. In a pretrial interview with lawyers, Alex said Chavis made posters their father distributed during his search, but on the witness stand he couldn't recall that.

Alex also was unable to remember certain physical details about Chavis in the interview or on the stand.

"He's unbelievable and he should be unbelievable," said Michael Rollo, Chavis' lawyer. "He's a liar and he's been a liar from the beginning."

Under cross-examination, both boys admitted they lied under oath before a grand jury and at two other trials in an attempt to frame Chavis for the murder. Last year, separate juries acquitted Chavis of first-degree murder and convicted the King brothers of second-degree murder without a weapon.

Circuit Judge Frank Bell overturned the boys' convictions and ordered mediation that resulted in their guilty pleas to third-degree murder. Alex is serving seven years and Derek eight years in separate juveniles facilities.

"The boys' lack of credibility, I think that's the main problem we ran into," said Escambia County sheriff's investigator John Sanderson, who worked the case. "Personally, I have a problem with their credibility."

Rimmer tried to overcome the credibility gap with corroborating evidence including records that showed Chavis had been convicted of molesting two boys 20 years ago. One of the victims and another man testified they had oral s'ex with Chavis when they were teens. The prosecutor also introduced love letters Alex had written to and about Chavis.

"There really wasn't any evidence that he lied about the s'exual abuse," Rimmer said.

Chavis is facing another trial Feb. 24 on charges of being an accessory after the fact to murder and evidence tampering. He has admitted to investigators that he picked up the boys after the killing, took them to his Pensacola home, washed their clothing and hid them from police.

Rollo and Rimmer discussed a possible plea bargain on those charges. After Wednesday's verdict the prosecutor was in no mood to cut a deal unless Chavis pleads guilty and throws himself on the court's mercy. Rollo said he would advise his client against that.

If that case goes to trial, Rimmer said he does not plan to call Derek or Alex as witnesses


Other Media

There was a news brief at Google on Tuesday. It said the reason one juror was released Tuesday morning was because court officials found out he had pleaded no contest to the same lewd and lascivious charge that Chavis faced. He had been sentenced to 1 year of community control and 3 years probation. His name was James Saumenig.

More Questions than Answers from Concerned Citizens


"The investigator Sanderson said they had no Probable cause to think
Chavis molested Alex but... if someone had come to them with evidence
they certainly would have investigated it."


This case had much more corroborating evidence than sex trials usually do. Credible Victims with similar experiences, writings from the victim to the perpetrator, eye witnesses,Joyce Tracy, Linda Walker, Derek King.

Why with a convicted child molester, who hid the children, washed their clothes after a murder,Chavis clearly manipulated a 12 yr old child to think he "loved him" with writings as evidence, would not merit an investigation? Why should someone have brought the Police the evidence? Is it not their jobs to search for it?"


Why was Steve Bell not called? He was a victim of Chavis from the time he was 14 and Chavis was 32. They both admit to having sex. Steve filed a restraining order against Chavis stating Chavis had a gun and he feared Chavis would try to kill him. This witness would have filled in the missing years and shown the jury that Chavis has recent child molesting history. Steve Bell sat in the courtroom throughout the trial, so…. Could have been easily located. Chavis actually hid bell and took him out of state to New Orleans to live.


Question : What does it take to have probable cause?


The restraining order that Steven Bell took out was back in 1998 I believe which in our way of thinking, is not all that long ago. But the case against Chavis at that time was dropped for some odd reason. Sound familiar? He was listed as the respondant in the domestic violence offense connected with the restraining order and that case was dismissed by the judge at the hearing. In 1996, Chavis was arrested and charged with petty theft. That case was dismissed by the judge also.

Question: It would appear that Chavis can be arrested for his crimes, but once it comes before the courts, he is home free. Do we see a pattern here?

Question: Why did Rimmer not honor Alex Kings Request, Attorney Jim Greens Request on behalf of Alex's mother, James Stokes Request, and The public's Request that the courtroom be cleared for the testimony of Alex a 13 year old molestation victim?

Question: Why did Rimmer make the boys repeat the details of their confession when it had nothing to do with Alex being molested?

Citizen Comments

Rimmer made sure the cameras stayed in the courtroom in spite of the fact that it was his job to protect the victim. Alex expressed that he was embarrassed. His testimony was clearly affected by the huge audience he knew would have. But Rimmer wanted to make sure that the world had video available oF Alex confessing to the murder.To Rimmer this was much more important than getting a career pedophile off the streets.


RIMMER'S roll in this trial was to be ADVOCATE for the victim, making sure Alex's rights were protected.

INSTEAD, he used the opportunity to chastise Alex thereby showing the jury just what he thought of his own witness: Alex is a bad, untrustworthy person.

RIMMER IS FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR CHAVIS WALKING AWAY FROM A JUST SENTENCE OF 170 YEARS IN PRISON.

Question: Why did he need to yell at Alex "What would you say to all the people
who supported you and you lied too" (Bell stopped him and said it was
not Relevant) Why did Rimmer attempt to say it again differently and was
stopped by Bell once again? This was the 3rd time Judge Bell scolded Rimmer about asking an impermissable question and quickly withdrawing the question before the Judge could rule on the objection from Chavis's Attorney Rollo. BELL WAS EXASPERATED.


Support Groups

Online advocates for the humane treatment of children in the Florida Justice System, as a public service have created a lovely website for alternative vacation areas worldwide which are "child friendly" http://www.boycottflorida.org

The derekandalexking site is reporting concerned citizens questions and comments, Some comments may not be the opinions of all members, the administrators or others associated with this site.

December 30, 2002

Gov. Bush
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

The Honorable John E. Bush;

Are you aware that your persecutor David Rimmer again took to the national airwaves on December 26 on MSNBCs “the Abrams Report” to again attack the system for putting Alex and Derek King into juvenile facilities? It is unconscionable that this excuse for a human being wants to have children placed into adult prisons where they will be raped and attacked. Why do you let this vermin persist in the job he holds which I thought was to seek justice, not retribution?? His vehement and venomous attacks on these children is inhuman! What is his motive in continuing these attacks on national TV?

But maybe you don’t know that he did this the week before on FOXs ‘The O’Reilly Factor’ when he told the tale quickly bought into by O’Reilly that instead of going to jail these children were being sent to what was ohterwise a ‘boarding school’ in which they just couldn’t go home weekends. He was vicious in his attack on these children and wanted to paint the picture of the ‘prisons’, which is what these children are in, as though it was a friendly little home with ‘private rooms, a green house’ and other luxuries. Why they may even get to play. Really? They are awoken at 5 AM, do calisthenics, attend school, hopefully are given counseling and therapy for their abuse, and are visited every ten minutes while in their ‘rooms’ while sleeping. This is not a ‘boarding school!

In this same TV show, Rimmer told O’Reilly that there was something fishy with the placement of Alex and Derek in juvenile facilities and he wonders what is going on. He then went on to state that their was a web site that is championing these children and ‘making them look like heroes instead of convicted killers’. When asked if the boys could see the website rimmer responded that sure they can get to a computer and see what people are saying. Really? I didn’t know that the Escambia County jail had computers for access by the prisoners. WOW! What a crock and load of manure!

Is this who you want your represent your state in the media? It is no wonder that these two children are victims of the system when he is so determined to win at any cost that he will disgrace your state with these constant attacks. No wonder these children had to ‘cop a plea’ because he would not let them have any rest until he had them executed. That is what he wants, he doesn’t care how. If he could get them into the adult system then that is what would happen to them. I am sure that if they would have stood trial again they would have been exonerated. But this vermin would have held them in the adult jail for another year until a new trial could be held. Another year of being treated worse than you would treat dogs and not allowed out of their cells except for a few hours of ‘recreation’ as long as the adult prisoners were not around. I would have copped a plea also, and I am an adult with the mental maturity, life experience and stamina to resist, not a child who is easily lead by adults.

This piece of vermin has gone to such lengths to convict these boys that I wonder what his reasoning is. It is certainly not justice. Too bad he wasn’t as vociferous in his prosecution of Chavis for the murder of Terry King, he may have won it then.

I truly fear for the sanity and health of Alex in the upcoming trial of Rick Chavis for sexual molestation and kidnapping of Alex and Derek. Do you really believe that this vermin has the interests of Alex and Derek at heart? I don’t. I am sure that he will again humiliate Alex and try to get him to testify in open court without the protection afforded other molestation victims. What are you going to do about this? Alex and Derek better get the protection afforded those under sixteen years of age to be videotaped and not appear in an open court. In fact the court should be lcosed as it is in other molestation trials.

When are you going to stop this insanity? The continued persecution by this vermin must be stopped. Do you have any conscience? You surely cannot be called a Christian if you condone the continued onslaught against these boys by this vermin.

It isn’t enough that these children were not given the protection from self incrimination. Oh yes, they were read their Miranda rights. Just because they were asked if they knew right from wrong and if they could read does not qualify them for understanding the protection guaranteed by our constitution but ignored by the police in their quest to be the victors in solving a crime. Every child in Florida should be scared witless with the impunity in which police do not protect children form themselves which is what they are sworn to do. These children are not afforded their consent in any other action- contract, health, schooling, sex, etc., but they are allowed to consent to waive their constitutional rights?

Did you know that the police can lie about evidence and can use any psychological trick to coerce confessions? Did you see any of Court TVs ‘The Interrogation of Michael Crowe’? Have you read or seen the story of Peter Reilly, an 18 year old boy who was interrogated and kept awake for over 30 hours so they could get him to confess? I guess so long as they don’t beat them black and blue, it is legal? Legal? Is it JUST though, to hell with ‘legal’. What about the boys ‘convicted’ by their confessions in the New York Central Park Jogger case. Why their convictions were overturned when new evidence which was the only physical evidence the police obtained, showed that someone else did the crime. So what that it comes after the boys spent their youth in prison and served their time. Any ‘sorry, but we goofed’? No, the police still maintain the boys did it. At least in this case the judge and the prosecutor thought differently!

Then with the vermin in charge of the persecution he wants them treated as adults because ‘it was an adult crime’. Just when did these children become adults? By their confessions? A crime is a crime, it is an adult crime if it is committed by an adult not otherwise. This vermin then wanted them treated as adults until their trial so they were further persecuted. No one from the state gave them any consideration on what the effect of such imprisonment would do to such young victims. Imagine being held in a cell for 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It is reported that Alex was tied to a chair because he tried to escape. Escape? How could an 80 lb little boy escape- the handcuffs slipped off his tiny wrists so that was considered an attempted escape. God almighty protect us from such insanity.

Then the court just blindly follows law and does not take into account the youth of these children. For after all ‘the LAW is the LAW is the LAW’. I thought we were a nation under God not under the LAW or under lawyers. Again, no one in the state cares that this treatment of children is barbaric and unjust. The judge finally got some heat so when he unsealed the verdict for Chavis in the death of Terry King he had to vacate the verdict in the boys’ trial. To save face he orders ‘mediation’ in which these children are again at the mercy of rimmer the persecutor. How wonderful.
And now they are in juvenile facilities continuing to be persecuted by this vermin. When are you going to take action to protect these children?

The only safe place for children in Florida is Disney World, outside of that it is ‘the children’s worst nightmare’ waiting to happen. All children in Florida should be made aware of their constitutional rights and how to protect themselves from overzealous and lying police. Just look at what happened to two nine year olds with marijuana in school; both are arrested and charged with felony drug possession and one charged with felony attempt to distribute! God help us, what next, a kindergartner with a knife to cut his cookie will be arrested for having a concealed weapon? In Pennsylvania the child did bring a knife to school, a butter knife, so that he could cut his cookie at snack time. Thank God he was in Pennsylvania.

The actions taken against these children are just state sponsored child abuse. Without the ‘law’ anyone doing this would be in jail themselves. What makes it right ‘because it is the law’? Wrong is wrong no matter who does it. The state is guilty of child abuse and you know it.

This is not the only case in which justice has not been served. Lionel Tate, Nathaniel Brazill, and Rebecca Falcon have shared even worse fates by the Florida Justice System. These children are just that, children, to sentence them as though they were knowledgeable as adults is cruel and barbaric. Until the Florida system is changed in the law it will be up to ;many to inform the public on the stupidity of its legislature and officers of the state. And let us not forget Aaron Paparella, a deaf and dumb fourteen year old charged as an adult with attempting to rape three little girls. The context though must be understood. The following is a letter that his father wrote:

FROM: Michael Paparella
SENT: Thursday, November 7, 2002
SUBJECT: Aaron Paparella

This is in reference to our conversation concerning Aaron Paparella. I wanted to clarify some things as well as allow this letter to be posted for other readers. I first want to thank
everyone with the bottom of my heart; words alone will never convey my gratitude.

I have a 16-year old son, Aaron who is deaf. He has been charged with several capitol felony charges and could face life in prison without parole. There has never been any kind of proper investigations. The children that are involved have been provoked by law enforcements, department of children and families and the state. This is an absolute horror. Aaron was arrested in St. Augustine, FL on his first day of school. It took the state five days to transport him from St. Augustine to Pensacola. I spent three days in St. Augustine looking for my son. I arrived in Pensacola and I still did not know where my son was. Five days from his arrest until I was able to locate my son. My son rights were read without an interpreter. When I
visited my son in Juvenile Detention (Escambia county) Aaron had bruises around his neck and on his arms. My mother and my children as well as Aaron's aunt witnessed the bruises. We later found out, one of the guards did not realize Aaron was deaf and because Aaron would not respond to this guards command, he manhandled Aaron.

Aaron shortly after this incident was moved to the adult jail in Santa Rosa County. I have been told that Aaron was stripped naked and put in a padded cell lockdown for several days. Aaron told us that the guards would put signs up telling Aaron to shut the F____ up! Aaron has never been treated so inhumane. Understand deaf kids can be very loud because they can't hear themselves. Aaron was scared to death!

There are five kids involved. One boy was caught having sex (intercourse) with his eight-year-old sister. He was 12. He was caught by his parents who called the police. This kid was arrested, convicted and tried in the juvenile courts. His case is finished and he was back in school within a few months. Aaron on the other hand has never been convicted and has not had any schooling for over a year.

The state has magnified situations that were not even close to sex or any type of physical force, beyond belief. Read the depositions! The blame has been taken off one kid and put on the "Stupid Deaf and Dumb Kid!" Aaron's involvement came into existence when the 12-year-old boy introduced Aaron to his father's supply of pornography who left it lying around the house openly for these kids to find. I have witnessed magazines left open in the father's bathroom on one occasion when I had visited their house to look at their new furniture. The kids had gotten a hold of a DVD that had pornography on it. I found it hidden in my back yard. These kids got hold of pornography that should have never been left out for a kid to find, and mimicked what they had seen. I truly believe there was never any intent to harm and force any kind of sex, even with the 12 year old with his sister; this was just simple children being curious. I absolutely would be devastated if this were to happen to my
girls but at the same time who is to blame here? I think if most adults would look back and be honest with themselves we all did things as kids that if we were caught with today's laws, we all would be facing life in prison. Craziness!!! The other two girls that are involved with the state are being absolutely crazy! The notoriety by the state led these girls to lie. One girl is soooo unbelievable that you have to take a deep breath when you read it.

Due to Aaron's lack of language, he is developmentally challenged. His reading skills are that of a second an third grader. The state has completely ignored this. Aaron does not and has not comprehended what is going on with him. Aaron has been forced to be secluded from his family and friends for over a year. And has not been allowed to go to school until three days ago. Aaron is not guilty of the crimes he is being charged with by the state. Katina Wilson (originally) and now Rick Scherling.

Aaron attended the Florida School for the deaf and blind in St. Augustine, FL. This was the hardest decision I had to ever make in my life before these hideous charges were brought against my son. Aaron would come home on weekends.

This school was fantastic. This is where Aaron needs to be and because of the State he can no longer go there. Aaron was manager of the basketball team and football team. He was excelling. We were all working as a team trying to get Aaron caught up socially. I was in contact weekly and would make several trips quartly to the school. I knew due to Aaron's lack
of language he was not your typical 13 years old. He was years behind his peers mentally. Aaron is not stupid he does have a high IQ, but because of the lack of language he fell way behind socially.

Aaron suffered through a horrible divorce and even though we as parents [mom and dad] tried to keep things from him he was emotionally scared. This was a set back for him. St. Augustine knew Aaron's problems and were helping him.

From the very beginning I have begged Katina Wilson and Rick Scherling to please do a proper investigation concerning the charges against Aaron. I have begged these people to look at Aaron and where he is in life concerning his developmental challenges and deafness. I was smirked at and ridiculed by these people in court. I have been threatened with arrest warrants against me on more than one occasion. I was told in court in the very beginning there was a possibility I would be arrested. I had to live in fear for almost a month wondering if I was going to jail. I was threatened by Katina Wilson that I was going to jail. This is on public record through a court reporter. Rick Scherling has mocked me and basically told me I was a liar in court. Again public record!

I feel Rick Scherling continues to talk out of two sides of his mouth. One minute, Aaron is being charged as an adult and the next minute, Rick Scherling continues to threatened me with warrants for my arrest. Three weeks ago, Aaron's last court date, I was told by the Judge they were putting dad [me] in the county jail for thirty days. Rick Scherling told the Judge Aaron was not in compliance with a court order, ordering Aaron to wear an ankle monitor.

I explained to the judge, I had on three different occasions and through many phone calls, tried to get the state to put Aaron on an ankle monitor [only because it was court ordered] but the state refused to provide an interpreter for Aaron concerning the rules and regulations of this monitor. When they did provide an interpreter, they handed the interpreter a bunch of papers and said read this to Aaron. The interpreter refused. The next time I drove from Gulf breeze to Milton, the state began to ask me questions instead of Aaron. I kept telling the state you need to ask your [adult] prisoner. This is also on public record. I also tried to explain to the state, I am a single dad with four kids and I own a small ceramic tile store. I can't stay at home. I work in Pensacola. The state wanted me to be home at a certain time and I would have to call whenever we were to leave home. I was also told I couldn't leave at night except for church and would have to provide them a church bulletin. Craziness! The judge finally seemed like he was listening. I have been told we have a very fair judge. So I don not want to upset him.

I want to clarify that Aaron does have a court appointed interpreter and the judge has allowed for us to use a deaf interpreter to assist in this case. I also want to say that the judge has been fair based on the information and the laws. Understand what I am saying; the whole truth has not been revealed and the judge can only react on what the state provide to him. I feel the judge's hands are tied. My prayers are [please let the judge read the girls statements]. I know without a shadow of a doubt the judge would throw this mess out of court. Shame on Katina Wilson and Rick Scherling! Aaron has never had a chance!

End of his father's letter.

Another child and family tortured by those sworn to protect them.
What say you?

Sincerely,

Richard T. Boyd
Citizen

Letters to the editor PNG 12/31/02

http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/news/123102/Opinion/ST003.shtml

Juvenile insanity

The wise decision made between the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Corrections concerning the King children reminds us that children have committed serious crimes since antiquity, and our juvenile systems have handled these youngsters quite effectively during the heyday of juvenile law with a successful history in rehabilitation-focused treatment for adolescents. It is also a bold statement that allowing Florida prosecutors to decide which children to destroy leads to inherent discrimination and overreaching.


Despite media hype about youngsters becoming a super- predator culture, studies show juvenile crime has steadily declined. The warnings that scared the public and allowed our lawmakers to go overboard for the sake of tourist dollars has now come full circle due to a call for an international boycott until the laws are changed.


As a Florida taxpayer and voter, this yellow dog does not want anymore of my tax dollars wasted for the purpose of torturing children who need rehabilitation and treatment.


I would appreciate the News Journal reporting exactly how much this trial cost in comparison to handling this in the juvenile system, which is where it wound up anyway.

Stop the insanity!
Concerned Citizen

According to the Florida Department of Corrections search, both of the boys are out of custody and at Juvenile Justice Facilities this morning, Sunday December 15th..
http://www.dc.state.fl.us/appcommon/searchall.asp

type in last name KING, ages 13 to 14, hit enter, the click on INMATE RELEASE SEARCH RESULTS.


link to Department of Juvenile Justice, where you can read about them and their facilities
http://www.djj.state.fl.us

In the Juvenile facility contact written or in person will be limited to a small list of family and personal friends.The location will not be given to the general public.

This is excellent news and the concerned citizens of www.derkandalexking.org and all the supporters of changing this cruel law should be very proud of their efforts. Please remember we still need to keep the pressure up for the upcoming Chavis trial and hope the governor will surely see that a special prosecutor should be appointed for this trial. It does not take a rocket scientist to see that Rimmer is in a huge conflict of interest here.

Also, Please do not forget the other children in this state whose fate is yet to be determined. Case in point is Aaron Paparella, you can find more information on him through the site. It is essential that we stop the adult process before the verdict has come down as in the King Case. Lets STOP the nonsense of holding children in the State of Florida accountable as though they are adults!
A Few address's to write and say Thank you! As we did before Thanksgiving we are hoping that the Governor and Bill Bankhead will get a postcard from every state and from around the world, postcards are easily filed and can express your thanks and show your state. Please consider sending them each one from your home state! Thx

John Ellis "Jeb" Bush
Governor of Florida
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Phone: 850-488-7146
FAX: 850-487-0801
Email: jeb.bush@myflorida.com

Juvenile Justice Contact Information Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
Knight Building
2737 Centerview Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3100
(850) 488-1850

William "Bill" Bankhead, Secretary
WGB@djj.state.fl.us
850) 413-7313
Francisco "Frank" Alarcon, II, Deputy Secretary (850) 921-8807
Robert Sechen, General Counsel (850) 921-4129

Congratulations to all of the concerned citizens worldwide in your efforts. We also would like to acknowledge Jayne Weintraub hired by Rosie ODonnell (Thank you Rosie!) for their efforts. Well Done
Enjoy your Christmas for you have blessed others!

Letter from a Concerned Citizen to the Public:



Friends,
Recently I was told through a source close to the Alex and Derek King that Alex is just beginning to realize that all of this crap with Chavis was not "normal" and that the upcoming trial is going to be terribly embarrassing and he is now dreading it.
In relation to this, I think you should know that the law gives Alex very important legal rights, which I have listed below. He can write to the Court and ask:
1a) that the testimony he give is VIDEOTAPED, AS OPPOSED TO GIVING IT LIVE.
1b) that he not be able to look at Chavis while testifying
2) that the testimony he give is given via closed circuit television, as opposed to live.
3) that he has the right to have a victim advocate present during depositions and testimony
4) that he can have the courtroom cleared while testifying.

I have listed the applicable Florida Statutes below:

1) HE HAS THE RIGHT UNDER LAW TO HAVE HIS TESTIMONY VIDEOTAPED, AS OPPOSED TO GIVING IT LIVE.

92.53 Videotaping of testimony of victim or witness under age 16 or person with mental retardation.--

(1) On motion and hearing in camera and a finding that there is a substantial likelihood that a victim or witness who is under the age of 16 or who is a person with mental retardation as defined in s. 393.063(42) would suffer at least moderate emotional or mental harm due to the presence of the defendant if the child or person with mental retardation is required to testify in open court, or that such victim or witness is otherwise unavailable as defined in s. 90.804(1), the trial court may order the videotaping of the testimony of the victim or witness in a case, whether civil or criminal in nature, in which videotaped testimony is to be utilized at trial in lieu of trial testimony in open court.

(2) The motion may be filed by:

(a) The victim or witness, or the victim's or witness's attorney, parent, legal guardian, or guardian ad litem;

(4) The defendant and the defendant's counsel shall be present at the videotaping, unless the defendant has waived this right. The court may require the defendant to view the testimony from outside the presence of the child or person with mental retardation by means of a two-way mirror or another similar method that will ensure that the defendant can observe and hear the testimony of the victim or witness in person, but that the victim or witness cannot hear or see the defendant. The defendant and the attorney for the defendant may communicate by any appropriate private method.

2) HE HAS THE RIGHT UNDER LAW TO GIVE TESTIMONY VIA CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION.

FLS 92.54 Use of closed circuit television in proceedings involving victims or witnesses under the age of 16 or persons with mental retardation.--

(1) Upon motion and hearing in camera and upon a finding that there is a substantial likelihood that the child or person with mental retardation will suffer at least moderate emotional or mental harm due to the presence of the defendant if the child or person with mental retardation is required to testify in open court, or that such victim or witness is unavailable as defined in s. 90.804(1), the trial court may order that the testimony of a child under the age of 16 or person with mental retardation who is a victim or witness be taken outside of the courtroom and shown by means of closed circuit television.

(2) The motion may be filed by the victim or witness; the attorney, parent, legal guardian, or guardian ad litem of the victim or witness; the prosecutor; the defendant or the defendant's counsel; or the trial judge on his or her own motion.

3) HE HAS THE RIGHT TO HAVE A VICTIM ADVOCATE FROM A 'RAPE' CRISIS CENTER DURING DEPOSITION & TESTIMONY (NOTE: THIS ADVOCATE DOES NOT HAVE TO COME FROM THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE)

960.001 Guidelines for fair treatment of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems.--

(q) Presence of victim advocate during discovery deposition; testimony of victim of a offense.--At the request of the victim or the victim's parent, guardian, or lawful representative, the victim advocate designated by state attorney's office, sheriff's office, or municipal police department, or one representative from a not-for-profit victim services organization, including, but not limited to, 'rape' crisis centers, domestic violence advocacy groups, and alcohol abuse or substance abuse groups shall be permitted to attend and be present during any deposition of the victim. The victim of a offense shall be informed of the right to have the courtroom cleared of certain persons as provided in s. 918.16 when the victim is testifying concerning that offense.

4) IF TESTIMONY IS NOT ALLOWED VIA VIDEOTAPE OR CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION, HE HAS THE RIGHT TO HAVE THE COURTROOM CLEARED WHEN TESTIFYING.

918.16 'Sex' offenses; testimony of person under age 16 or person with mental retardation; testimony of victim; courtroom cleared; exceptions.--

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), in the trial of any case, civil or criminal, when any person under the age of 16 or any person with mental retardation as defined in s. 393.063(42) is testifying concerning any offense, the court shall clear the courtroom of all persons except parties to the cause and their immediate families or guardians, attorneys and their secretaries, officers of the court, jurors, newspaper reporters or broadcasters, court reporters, and, at the request of the victim, victim or witness advocates designated by the state attorney's office.

(2) When the victim of a 'sex' offense is testifying concerning that offense in any civil or criminal trial, the court shall clear the courtroom of all persons upon the request of the victim, regardless of the victim's age or mental capacity, except that parties to the cause and their immediate families or guardians, attorneys and their secretaries, officers of the court, jurors, newspaper reporters or broadcasters, court reporters, and, at the request of the victim, victim or witness advocates designated by the state attorney may remain in the courtroom